NEWARK -- Devils' all-time scoring leader Patrik Elias went on record before the Olympic break, saying "it doesn't take a rocket scientist" to realize the club needs to add offense by the NHL's March 5 trade deadline to make the playoffs.

After the Olympics, Jaromir Jagr voiced a different opinion, insisting his team's current roster is good enough.

Devils coach Pete DeBoer weighed in on the subject after Tuesday's practice.

Asked by NJ.com if he'll be hoping president/general manager Lou Lamoriello deals for help, DeBoer responded by putting pressure on himself instead of his boss.

"I'm not looking for the cavalry to come in and save this team,” the coach said. "I really think the answers to our problems are inside that dressing room. I’m not waiting for a trade. I think we can get more out of this group, and it’s my job to squeeze some more out of them."

The Devils are three points out of a playoff spot with 23 games to go, but will play just four times before the trade deadline -- home Thursday night against Columbus, in Long Island against the Islanders on Saturday afternoon, home Sunday afternoon against San Jose and home next Tuesday against Detroit.

Even though offense has been an issue all season for the Devils, DeBoer believes his team would be dangerous if it squeezed into the playoffs.

"I do," DeBoer said. "I wouldn't want to play against us. I think with the goaltending we've got, with the type of defense that we play and how we've played against good teams, with some of the experience we have here and some of the playoff experience ... I wouldn't want to play against us. But we have to get it in order to get that opportunity."

A day earlier, Jagr wouldn't pull an Elias and say the Devils needed help.

"To be honest, I don't think that way," the right winger said. "Once I thought that way I would be saying we're not good enough. I don't believe that. I think we are good enough. I think we are good enough the way we are right now."

Left wing Ryane Clowe is with Jagr.

"When you look at our makeup … I think you can squeeze more out of what we've got here,” Clowe said Tuesday. “I think there's more to give. I know if you look at each individual, I know I’ve got more to give offensively. My game's where it needs to be, but a part of the game is finishing and capitalizing on opportunities.

“Every team will take a guy who can score goals, but it's not just about that. You want a guy who’s going to fit in and a guy who is willing to compete.”

Clowe, who has three goals and 13 points in 27 games, hopes the Devils play well enough before March 5 so management doesn't start selling off players. That could be the case for a roster littered with veterans who are in the final year of contracts – forwards Steve Bernier, Ryan Carter, Stephen Gionta and Jagr, blueliners Mark Fayne and Marek Zidlicky, and goalie Martin Brodeur.

The pressure is on.

"Yeah," Clowe said. "Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been in this position where we've jockeying for that last spot, and it's because we haven’t been able to put a real good run together that we need. I think down the stretch we’ve got to be one of those teams that finds a way to go 8-2 or whatever."